Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



May 30, 1944. w. KNEISSLER 2,350,314

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 29, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I *w. LINE OF f FEED 'wmmnnnumulmmmm QWUMI LO b v Walter[fiwissler 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllllllllll W. KNEISSLER FEEDINGMECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 29, 1941 llllllllliillllllmimnummmnunu l May 30, 1944.

Patented May 30, 1944 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING moms WalterKneissler, Roselle, N. J., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company,Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of NewJersey Application April 29, 1941,SerlalNo. 390,866

26 Claims.

This invention is a modification of that forming the subject of thepending application to H.

Hacklander, Serial No. 368,793, filed Dec. 6, 1940, and it relates toimprovements in feeding mechanisms for sewing machines of the,typewherein the material being stitched is adapted to be supported and fedthrough the machine by a pair of feeding wheels or cups.

In practice, it has been found desirable to equip cup-feed sewingmachines with an auxiliary work-feeding expedient when the machines areutilized for stitching delicate or flimsy materials such as fine silk,or nylon, hosiery fabrics. The use of an auxiliary work-feedingexpedient, in addition to the usual cooperating feed-cups, insures aneasy and uniform flow of the fabric through the machine, therebyeliminating puckering of the material during the formation of the seam.The elimination of the puckering results in a seam of high quality inwhich the individual stitches comprising the seam are of substantiallythe same length throughout the entire length of the seam.

A cup-feed sewing machine, adapted for hosiery seaming is customarilyequipped with an uncurling guide which is positioned directly in advanceof the two cooperating feed-cups and which functions touncurl'themarginal edges of the stocking blank and properly present thesame to the feed-cups and stitching devices. An uncurling guide of thetype employed is disclosed in the pending application of H. Hacklander,Serial No. 303,947, filed Nov. 13, 1939, which has matured into U. S.Patent No. 2,256,881, dated September 23, 1941.

As clearly set forth in said patent, the uncurling guide is adapted tobe swung from normal operative position upwardly into inoperative orloading pos tion, in which latter position the stocking blank may beconveniently introduced into the uncurling guide. After the stockingblank has been properly introduced into the uncurling guide the latteris lowered into operative position and the beginning end of the stockingblank to be seamed is inserted between" the feed-cups which at this timeare manually separated by means of a suitable treadle or knee-shiftconnection.

The above described method of introduction of work into the machine isbut one of two methods employed. The second method differs from thefirst method in that the uncurling guide isnot swung into loadingposition but is left in lowered operative position. The feed-cups areseparated in the usual manner and the stockin blank is verticallyintroduced between the separated feedcups and into the uncurling guide.In practicing the second method it is necessary that there existsbetween the two feed-cups an uninterrupted fabric-passageway into whichthe marginal edges of the stocking blank may be raised so that thebeginning end of the stocking blank to be seamed may be properlypositioned relative to the stitchforming devices. V

When using the auxiliary feeding expedient disclosed in the pendingapplication of H. Hacklander, Serial No. 368,793, filed Dec. 6, 1940, ofwhich the present invention is a modification, the presser-springfollows the periphery of the outer feed-cup for the full extent of itsseparating movement. Since the presser-spring remains in contact withthe periphery of the outer feed-cup during its separating movement, nouninterrupted fabric-passageway between the feed-cups is provided withthe result that difliculty is experienced in introducing the marginaledges of the stocking blank into the machine when following the methodin which the uncurling guide is not swung into loading position.

It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention toprovide an auxiliary feeding expedient which operates rearwardly of thestitching devices to assist the feed-cups in advancing delicate fabricsthrough the machine at a uniform rate and without puckering, whichauxiliary feeding expedient does not interfere in any way with theintroduction of the fabric between the feed-cups and into the uncurlingguide.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anauxiliary feeding expedient in the form of a yielding presser-member inwhich the effective pressure of the same may be adjusted in accordancewith the character of the fabric being sewn.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear,the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements ofparts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsof a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the severalfeatures of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevationalview, partly in section, of a cup-feed sewing machine embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the feed-cups, needleand needle-bar, and presserspring, illustrating the position of thepresserspring relative to the feed-cups.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the elements shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the pre ferred form of theauxiliary feeding device with the inner and outer feed-cups in dottedlines.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the elements shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 6-6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially alongthe line I--I, Fig. 4.

' w Fig. 8 is an enlarged verticalsectionai view taken substantiallyalong the line 8-8, F g. ,4.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken through the two feed-cups andthe body of the presserspring in the plane containing the path ofneedlereciprocation and with no material between the feed-cups.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational 'view of a cup-feed sewingmachine fitted with a modifled form of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view. partly in section, of the feed-cups. needleand modified form of Presser-spring.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the auxiliary feeding deviceillustrated in Fig. 10 showing the same mounted upon the hub of theinner feedcup.

' Fig. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the modified auxiliary feedingdevice clearly showing the same as a unit adapted for convenientattachment upon existing cup-feed machines.

Referring in detail to the drawings. the machine in which the inventionis incorporated is constructed substantially in accordance with thedisclosure in the pending application of H. Hacklander, Serial No.296,031, filed Sept. 22, 1939, which has matured into U. S. Patent No.dated March 3 1 4 and includes a machine-frame having a standard I whichterminates at its upper end into a laterally projecting overhangingbracket 2. Supported by 2. lug.

3 integral with the standard I is an inner feedcup 4 which cooperateswith an outer feed-cup 5 depending from a bracket 6 pivotally supportedwithin the laterall projecting overhanging bracket 2, as clearlydisclosed in the above noted Patent No. 2,277,970. As is common inmachines r of this type, the two feed-cups l and 5 are positively drivenin synchronism, and are adapted to support and feed the material W beingsewn past the stitch-forming devices.

To augment the feeding action of the two positively driven feed-cups land 5 on the material there is provided a resser-spring I having awork-engaging section 8 adapted to yieldingly V press the material intocontact with the serrated peripheral face of the outer feed-cup 5rearwardly f the stitching point. The presser-spring I cooperates withthe driven feed-cup to effect a pull-feed action on the material, whichaction supplements the action of the feed-cups in advancing the materialthrough the machine at a uniform rate.

The preferred form of the Dresser-spring I is best shown in Figs. 4 and5 and comprises a workengaging section 8 terminating at its free end ina. narrowed work-directing finger 9 which extends forwardlysubstantially in the line of feed between the two feed-cups 4 and 5through a suitable recess I0 formed in the lower portion of the serratedface of the inner feed-cup, the

free end of the finger 9 being preferabl curved cibly direct the leadingend of the material to be sewn between the work-engaging section 8 ofthe presser-spring and the periphery of the outer feed-cup 5. The otherend of the Dresser-spring 1 terminates in a shank II adapted to beadjustably attached by screws I2 to an upstanding flange I3 formed on aslide-block I4. Depending-from the slide-block I4 is a tongue I5 endwiseslidably received in a curved slot I6 formed in one end. of a supportingbracket II secured for limited horizontal or vertical adjustment uponthe standard I by a screw I9. The tongue I5 of the slide-block I4 ismaintained in the slot I6 by a cap-screw I9 threaded into the tongue I5;the head of the cap-screw I8 engaging the bottom surface of thesupporting bracket I7. Bearing against the inner end of the slide-blockI4 is one end of a. lever 20 pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 2|threaded into the bracket I1. The other end of the lever 20 is connectedby a coil-spring 22 to one end of an arm 23 the other end of which isyoked, as at 24, to embrace the reduced neck-portion 25 of a thumb-nut2i threaded upon a screw-stud 21 secured in the supportin bracket I'I.It will be observed in Fig,- 5 that the slideblock I4 carrying thepresser-spring I is normally yieldingly biased toward a stop-screw 28provided in the left-hand or outer end of the slot I6 by the coil-spring22, and that the amount of pressure exerted by the spring is adapted tobe adjusted by the thumb-nut 26. Further, it will be seen in Figs. 3 and4 that the component parts of the support for the presser-spring I aredisposed directly beneathand adjacent to the bottom surface of the innerfeed-cup-l. When in this position the support for the presser-spring Iis at the discharge side. of the feed-cups and does not encroach uponthe work-handling space or the space through which the material passes.

During operation of the machine,'the workengaging section 8 of thepresser-spring I reacts against the periphery of the outer feed-cup 5and thereby maintains the end of the tongue I5 spaced slightl from thestop-screw 28. At the beginning of the sewing operation, the outerfeed-cup 5 is manually separated from the inner feed-cup 4 in order tofacilitate the introduction of the work between the feed-cups. As theouter feedcup moves away from the inner feed-cup 'the presser-spring Itends to follow the same, but only until the tongue I5 on theslide-block I4 engages the stop-screw 28. At this point movement of thepresser-spring I ceases and further movement of the outer feed-cup 5away from the inner feed-cup 4 results in the formation of anuninterrupted fabric-receiving passageway between the feed-cups and thepresser-spring. This uninterrupted fabric-receiving passageway permitsthe ready vertical insertion of the fabric between the feed-cups andinto the uncurling guide. It will be seen in Fig. 5 thatthe'slot IS inthe supporting bracket I! has a radius of curvature R struck preferablyfrom the axis of rotation of the inner feed-cup 4. This is advantageoussince any movement of the presser-spring I caused by the traversing ofunequal thicknesses of fabric or by the separation of the feed-cups isabout the axis of the inner feed-cup 4, and when so moved thework-directing finger 9 of the presser-spring does not move out of therecess severed end of the thread-chain from snapping back into the pathof and fouling the stitchforming devices the supporting bracket H (seeFig. 6) has secured thereto by screw 3| 9. threadend nipper 32. Thisnipper is positioned so that as the thread-chain is manually introducedinto the cutter the same is automatically pulled between the nipper 32and the face of the flange H, in which position the thread-chain issecurely nipped and held.

In Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, there is disclosed a modification of theimprovement. The modiilcation illustrated differs from that hereinabovedescribed in the design of the support for the presser-spring 1.Referring to Fig. 12 it will be observed that the shank H of thepresserspring I is secured by two screws I2 to the face of an upstandingflange 33 integral with an arm 34 provided on one section 35 of atwo-part frame 35, 35. The two sections of the frame 35, 38 are securedtogether by two screws 31 and 38, and are apertured, as at 39, to snuglyembrace the depending hub 40 formed on the inner feed-cup 4. Formed onthe bottom surface of the twopart frame is a flat face 4! (see Fig. 13)which rests upon the upper surface of the lug 3. It will be perceivedfrom the foregoing description that the two-part frame is freelyjournaled for limited turning movement upon the hub 40 of the innerfeed-cup 4 and that the presserspring 1 carried by the two-part frame ismaintained at its proper elevation by the face 4| resting upon the uppersurface of the lug 3.

Depending from the two-part frame 35, 35 are two ears 42 and 43 arrangedto straddle the lug 3. Disposed in the ear 42 is a plunger-pin 44 biasedtoward the lug 3 by a coil-spring 45 backed by an adjusting screw 45threaded into the ear 4!. Threaded into the other ear 43 is a stop-screw41.

It will be understood by reference to Fig. 11 that when the outerfeed-cup is in contact with the inner feed-cup 4, the work-engagingsection 8 of the presser-spring 1 is in yielding engagement with theperiphery of the outer feed-cup 5, and the pressure between thepresserspring and the periphery of the outer feed-cup is determined bythe coil-spring 45 acting on the plunger-pin 44. The stop-screw 41 ispreferably set so that when the presser-spring 1 is in 'contact with theperiphery of the outer feedcup 5 or is in position to press the materialbeing sewn against the outer feed-cup; the stopscrew is spaced from thelug 3. During the sewing operation and when traversing unequalthicknesses of material the presser-spring I and the two-part frame 35,36 carrying the same may turn about the hub 40 of the inner feed-cup 4,or, in other words, about the axis of the inner feedcup, against theaction of the plunger-pin 44. when the feed-cups are manually separatedto facilitate the introduction of the work the presser-spring 1 turnsabout the axis of the inner feed-cup, following the outer feed-cup 5 inits movement away from the inner feed-cup 4 until the stop-screw 41engages the lug 3. When this occurs the presser-spring ceases in itsmovement while the outer feed-cup continues to move 5 outwardly. Theseparation of the outer feedcup from the presser-spring produces anuninterrupted fabric-passageway between the feedcups and thepresser-spring.

A thread-chain cutter is also provided on this device for severing thethread-chain adjacent to the stitching point. The thread-chain cutterpreferably comprises an ear 48 integral with the upper edge of thepresser-spring shank II and bent into substantially horizontal position.The

inner edge of the ear is sharpened and forms with the shank H of thepresser-spring a threadreceiving notch 49 into which the thread-chain ismanually introduced.

It will be understood from the foregoing that an auxiliary feedingdevice is provided which augments the feeding action of the usualfeedcups and, in view of its design, automatically leads the fabricsections being stitched into position for engagement thereby. Moreover,the

26 auxiliary feeding device is constructed so that upon completeseparation of the feed-cups for the introduction of the work between thefeedcups there is formed an uninterrupted fabricpassageway between thepresser-spring and the feed-cups, thereby facilitating the verticalinsertion of the work into proper position for stitching.

While I have shown and described two forms of auxiliary feedingexpedients for accomplishing the desired result, it is to be understoodthat other embodiments of the device may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:-

1. In a sewing machine having circularly moving feed-cups provided withcooperating work-engaging faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups tofacilitate the introduction and removal of the material therebetween;the improvement which consists in the provis on of means for assistingthe feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine. said meansincluding a member adapted to cooperate with the peripheral face of oneof said feed-cups, means supporting said member for turning movementabout a substantially vertical axis, and means limiting the turningmovement of said member about its axis so that the same will bemaintained spaced from the peripheral face of its cooperating feed-cupwhen said feedcups are separated for the introduction or removal ofmaterial therebetween.

2. In a sewing machine having circularly moving feed-cups provided withcooperating workengaging faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups tofacilitate the introduction and removal of the material therebetween;the improvement which consists in the provision of means for assistingthe feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine, said meansincluding a member adapted to yieldingly press the material into contactwith the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups, means supporting saidmember for turning movement substantially about the periphery of theother of said feed-cups, and means limiting the turning movement of saidmember so that the same will be maintained spaced from the peripheralface of its cooperating feed-cup when said feed-cups are separated forthe introduction or removal of material therebetween.

3. In a sewing machine having circularly mov ng feed-cups provided withcooperating worbengaging faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups tofacilitate the introduction and removal of the material therebetween;the improvement which consists in the provision of means for assistingthe feed-cups in advancing th material through the machine, said meansincluding a member yieldingly biased toward and adapted to cooperatewith the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups, means supporting sa dmember for turning movement about an axis substantially coinciding withthe ax s of rotation of the other of said feed-cups, and means limitingthe turning movement of said member about its axis so that the same willbe maintained spaced from the peripheral face of its cooperatingfeed-cup when said feed-cups are separated for the introduction orremoval of material therebetween.

4. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging faces for suppiting and feeding material through themachine, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups to fac litate theintroduction and removal of material therebetween; the improvement whichconsists in the provision of means f r ass-st ng the feed-cups inadvancing the ma ter'al through the machine, said means including amember cooperating with the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups,and meanssupporting said member for cooperation with said peripheralface during the normal stitching operat on but .spaced from saidperipheral surface while said feed-cups are separated.

5. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups tofacilitate the introduction and removal of material therebetween; theimprovement which consists in the provision of means for assisting thefeed-cups in advancing the material through the machine, said meansincluding a member adapted to yieldingly press the material into contactwith the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups, means supporting saidmember for cooperation with said peripheral face during the normalstitching operation but spaced from said peripheral face while saidfeed-cups are separated, and spring means for biasing said member towardthe peripheral face of said feed-cup.

6. In a sewing machine having feed-cups pro v ded with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups tofacilitate the introduction and removal of material therebetween; meansfor assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through themachine, said means including a member adapted to yieldingly press thematerial into contact with the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups,means for supporting said member for movement toward the peripheral faceof said feed-cup, spring-means for biasing said member toward theperipheral face of said feed-cup, and stop means for limiting themovement of said member toward said feed-cup so that upon separation ofthe feedcups there is provided an uninterrupted fabricreceivingpassageway between said member and the peripheral face of itscooperating feed-cup.

7. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups tofacilitate the introduction and removal of material therebetween; meansfor assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through themachine, said means including a member adapted to yieldingly press thematerial into contact with the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups,means for supporting said member for movement toward the peripheral faceof said feed-cup, means including a spring for biasing said membertoward the peripheral face of said feed-cup, means for adjusting thepressure exerted by said spring, and stop means for limiting themovement of said member toward said feed-cup so that upon separation ofthe feed-cups there is provided an uninterrupted fabric receivingpassageway between said member and the peripheral face of itscooperating feed-cup.

8. In a sewing machine having feed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups tofacilitate the introduction and removal of material therebetween; meansfor assisting the feed-cups in advancing the material through themachine, said means including a member adapted to yieldingly press thematerial into contact with the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups,means for supporting said member for movement toward the peripheral faceof said feed-cup, means including a spring for biasing said membertoward the peripheral face of said feed-cup, means for adjusting thepressure exerted by said spring, and an adjustable stop for limiting themovement of said member toward said feed-cup so that upon separation ofthe feed-cups there is provided an uninterrupted fabric-receivingpassageway between said member and the peripheral face of itscooperating feed-cup.

9. In a sewing machine having a pair of circularly moving feed-cupsprovided with cooperating work-engaging peripheral faces one of which isrecessed, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups to facilitate theintroduction and removal of material therebetween; means for assistingthe feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine, said meansincluding a presser-member having a portion thereof disposed in therecess in one of said feed-cups and another portion thereof extendingacross the normal line of feed of the material and positioned toyieldingly press the material into contact with the peripheral face ofthe other of said feed-cups, means movably supporting saidpresser-member, and means for limiting the movement of saidpresser-member so that the work-engaging portion will be maintainedspaced from the peripheral face of the cooperating feed-cup and thatportion of the pressermemher which is disposed in the recess in theother feed-cup will remain therein when the feed-cups are separated forthe introduction or removal of material therebetween.

10. In a sewing machine having circularhr moving inner and outerfeedcups provided with cooperating work-engaging peripheral facesofwhich the peripheral face of the inner feed-cup is formed with arecess, and mechanism for separating said feed-cups to-facilitate theintroduction and removal of material therebetween; means for assistingthe feed-cups in advancing the material through the machine, said meansincluding a presser-member having a portion thereof disposed in saidrecess and another portion thereof extending across the normal line offeed of the material and positioned to yieldingly press the materialinto contact with the peripheral face of the outer feed-cup, meanssupporting said presser-member for movement relative to said innerfeed-cup, and means for limiting the movement of said presser-member sothat the work-engaging portion will be maintained spaced from theperipheral face of said outer feed-cup and that portion of thepressermember disposed in the recess in the inner feedcup will remainwithin the same when the feedcups are separated for the introduction orremoval of material therebetween.

11. A presser device adapted for attachment upon a sewing machine havingapair of circularly movingfeed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, comprising, a supporting bracket, a presser-membercarried thereby for movement in a curved path about the periphery of oneof said feed-cups, said presser-member having a work-engaging sectionadapted to yieldingly press the material into contact with theperipheral face of the other of said feed-cups, and means including aspring for biasing said workengaging section toward the cooperatingperipheral face of said feed-cup. I

12. A presser device adapted for attachment upon a sewing machine havinga pair of circularly moving feed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, comprising, a supporting bracket, a slide-blockmounted on said supporting bracket for movement in a curved path, apresser-member secured to said slide-block and having a work-engagingsection adapted to yieldingly press the material into contact with theperipheral face of one of said feed-cups, an adjustable stop forlimiting movement of the slide-block in one direction, and meansincluding a spring for biasing said slide-block toward said adjustablestop.

13. A presser device adapted for attachment upon a sewing machine havinga pair of circularly moving feed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine in a substantially vertical plane, comprising, asupporting bracket, a presser-member carried thereby for movement in acurved path about the periphery of one of said feed-cups, saidpresser-member having a work-engaging section adapted to yieldinglypress the material into contact with the peripheral face of the other ofsaid feed-cups, means including a spring for biasing said work-engagingsection toward the cooperating peripheral face of said feed-cup, ascrew-stud threaded into said supporting bracket, and a thumb-nutthreaded thereon and connected to said spring for regulating thepressure exerted by the spring.

14. A presser device adapted for attachment upon a sewing machine havinga pair of circularly moving feed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine,

comprising, a supporting bracket, a slide-block mounted on saidsupporting bracket for limited endwise movement, a presser-membersecured to said slide-block and having a work-engaging section adaptedto yieldingly press the material into contact with the peripheral faceof one of said feed-cups, a lever pivoted upon said supporting bracketand engaging said slide-block, a spring at one end connected to saidlever, and means connected to the other end of said spring forregulating the pressure exerted thereby.

15. A presser device adapted for attachment upon a sewing machine havinga pair of circularly moving feed-cups provided with cooperatingwork-engaging peripheral faces for supporting and feeding materialthrough the machine, comprising, a supporting bracket having a curvedslot formed therein, a slide-block movably mounted on said supportingbracket and having a depending tongue disposed in said slot, apresser-member secured to said slide-block and having a work-engagingsection adapted to yieldingly press the material into contact with theperipheral face of one of said feed-cups, means including a spring forbiasing said workengaging section toward the cooperating peripheral faceof said feed-cup, and means for adjusting the pressure exerted by saidspring.

16. In a sewing machine having a pair of feedcups, an auxiliaryspring-pressed presser-device movable concentrically of one of saidfeed-cups into pressure-exerting relation with the other of saidfeed-cups.

17. In a sewing machine having a pair of cooperating feed-cups, anauxiliary spring-pressed presser-device engageable with work at thedischarge side of said feed-cups and movable about an axis at one sideof the vertical plane of the line of feed between said feed-cups intopressureexerting relation with the feed-cup at the other side of saidplane.

18. In a sewing machine having a pair of feedcups, an auxiliaryspring-pressed presser-device cooperating with one of said feed-cups atone side of the vertical plane of the line of feed, and means at theother side of said plane for supporting and determining the path ofmovement of said presser-device about a definite axis toward and awayfrom said one of said feed-cups.

19. In a sewing machine having a frame supporting inner and outerfeed-cups having cooperating peripheral workengaging faces, meansadapted to assist the feed-cups in advancing material through themachine, said means comprising a presser-member having a work-engagingsection positioned at the discharge side of the feed-cups and disposedto press the material into contact with the peripheral work-engagingface of the outer feed-cup, and means secured to said frame and disposeddirectly beneath and adjacent to the bottom surface of the innerfeed-cup for supporting said presser-member.

20. In a cup-feedsewing machine having a pair of circularly movingfeed-cups, means for assisting the feed-cups in advancing materialthrough the machine, said means including a member having awork-engaging section adapted to yieldingly press the material intocontact with one of said feed-cups, and means including a framesupporting said member for turning movement about the periphery of oneof said feedcups, said frame being pivotally mounted beneath thefeed-cup about which the presser member turns.

21. In a cup-feed sewing machine having a pair of circularly movingfeed-cups of which at least one is formed with a hub, means forassisting the feed-cups in advancing material through the machine, saidmeans including a member having a work-engaging section adapted toyieldingly press the material into contact with one of said feed-cups,and means including a frame supporting said member for turning movementabout the axis of one of said feed-cups, said frame being ioumaled uponthe hub of the feed-cup about which the presser-member turns.

22. In a cup-feed sewing machine having a pair of circularly movingfeed-cups of which at least one is formed with a hub, means forassisting the feed-cups in advancing material through the machine, saidmeans including a member having a work-engaging section adapted toyieldingly press the material into contact with one of said feed-cups,means including a frame supporting said member for limited turningmovement, said frame comprising two parts secured together and aperturedto snugly embrace the hub of said feed-cup, and means including a springfor biasing the work-engaging section of said member toward itscooperating feed-cup.

23. In a sewing machine, the combination, with a frame provided with alug, an inner feedcup overlying and supported by said lug, and an outerfeed-cup adapted to cooperate with said inner feed-cup, of means forassisting the feedcups in advancing material through the machine, saidmeans including a member having a workengaging section adapted toyieldingly press the material against the outer feed-cup, a framesupporting said member and mounted beneath said inner feed-cup forlimited turning movement about the axis of said inner feed-cup, and apair of cars provided on said frame and positioned to straddle said lug,one of said ears providing for a stop for limiting turning movement ofsaid frame and the other of said ears providing for a spring adapted tobias the work-engaging section of said member into work-clampingrelation with said outer feed-cup.

2'4. A presser device adapted for attachment upon a cup-feed sewingmachine having a pair of circularly moving feed-cups provided withcooperating peripheral work-engaging faces for supporting and feedingmaterial through the machine, comprising, a presser-member having awork-engaging section adapted to yieldingly press the material intocontact with the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups, a two-partframe carrying said presser-member and adapted to be mounted for limitedturning movement about the axis of the other of said feed-cups, andmeans including a spring for yieldingly biasing the work-engagingsection of said presser-member into work-clamping relation with theperipheral face of its cooperating feed-cup.

25. A presser device adapted for attachment upon a cup-feed sewingmachine having a pair of circularly moving 1' -cups provided withcooperating peripheral work-engaging faces for supporting and feedingmaterial through the machine, comprising, a presser-member having awork-engaging section adapted to yieldingly urge the material intocontact with the peripheral face of one of said feed-cups, a framecarrying said presser-member and adapted to be mounted for limitedturning movement about the axis of the other of said feed-cups, a pairof spaced ears projecting from said frame, a stop-screw threaded intoone of said ears for limiting the turning movementof said presser-memberin one direction, and a spring carried by the other of said ears forbiasing the work-engaging section of said presser-member intowork-clamping relation with the peripheral face of its cooperatingfeednipper.

WALTER KNEISSLER.

